Abstract (eng)
This study examines the health implications of working from home during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Austria, with a specific focus on gender-specific differences. In addition to gender theories regarding the role of women as "caregivers," prominent stressors and resources of working from home were identified along the JD-R model. The analysis of the Austrian situation is based on expert interviews on the topics of working from home and women's health, as well as the inclusion and evaluation of data from the Austrian Corona Panel Project (ACPP). Key findings indicate that the conditions of working from home vary significantly, making general statements difficult. Therefore, no significant effects of the pandemic-related shift from in-person work to working from home were observed, nor were there any gender effects in working from home. However, the pandemic has increased the acceptance of working from home and could establish hybrid work models in the long term. Important results show that spatial, temporal, and cognitive separation between work and personal life is crucial for productivity and well-being. A flexible design of the work environment can have positive effects on work-life balance, but it requires a high level of autonomy and trust from employers. At the same time, the structural disadvantage of women in the labor market remains evident, particularly due to the unequal distribution of caregiving work. This study shows that women were not more burdened in working from home during the lockdowns, but rather experienced higher psychological stress outside of working from home due to traditional gender roles. Future research should consider individual conditions in working from home, as well as new factors such as the impacts of climate change. The findings of this study suggest that targeted adjustments to working conditions and the promotion of equality in caregiving work are necessary to reduce health burdens in working from home.